28 November 2003
Present: MJI, JRL, PSB, DWE, STH
Agenda
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1. Actions from last meeting
2. Comments on WFAU minutes
3. Report on UKIDSS meeting
4. Progress on ISAAC reductions
5. Reports on progress for Q4M2 VDMT (2nd December)
6. Astrowise visit
7. AOB
Minutes
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1. Actions from last meeting
STH made good progress investigating the supplied UFTI photometric standards
files and presented a report for the UKIDSS meeting. It was noted
that the continuation of this work is now part of the photometric
calibration work package and not an action item.
STH PSB has incorporated the southern extension of the photometric standards
PSB within the VDFS documents. Changes to the WFCAM calibration document
ongoing and some work (eg. bright star checking) still remains. <<<<
STH a database for the numbering of documents has been 75% completed and a
perl script to automatically convert this into a web page written.
This still needs to be completed and run initially in parallel with
the current web page. <<<<
MJI Mark Casali was not present at the UKIDSS meeting so no information
was obtained about the QE variations of the 4 science-grade detectors.
This still needs pursuing. <<<<
JRL the reduction of UFTI service data is not quite finished - ongoing <<<<
STH has acquired more UFTI service data. This was agreed to be an ongoing
action. <<<<
STH the telecon scheduled for Monday 17th was cancelled. STH still needs
to check with SJW about the issue of CIRSI and FIRES comparisons. <<<<
ALL the issue of WFCAM pipeline acceptance is still open ended but will
be part of the remit of VDUC and the UKIDSS CSS and CVS positions.
STH still needs to look at the spatial systematics in the UFTI standards
(and new test) data <<<<
MJI has not supplied WFAU with WFCAM-CIRSI test data with updated headers
to test WSA data ingestion. This will be done by the Tuesday meeting. <<<<
STH has updated the risk registers (illness risk), but this has not been
put on the web yet. It was pointed out that so far this had only
considered long-term illness and that a short-term illness risk
should also be added. <<<<
MJI have obtained the data (from Paul Aslin) for the budget requirements
STH for next VDFS bid (Jan) and also the spend since April 2002. A first
digest of this will be available for the VDMT. <<<<
All an abstract for the SPIE conference has been prepared. The deadline for
registering has not been determined yet! The website says that the
registration form will be available in the Advance Technical Program
which will be available in March 2004.
DWE has released the interpolation report on the web
MJI did ask SJW about the agenda for UKIDSS meeting
PSB are close to a final agenda for the ESO visit. A final version will
JRL be put on the internal web pages. PSB briefly discussed the current
version. <<<<
MJI replied to JPE about UKIDSS telecon email
STH
2. Comments on WFAU minutes
No meetings - no minutes - no comments
3. Report on UKIDSS meeting
For CASU - RGM, MJI, STH and JRL attended
SJW gave the hardware progress report since MMC was not at the meeting.
A replacement engineering grade detector has been acquired and is in the
process of being tested. The remaining WFCAM hardware items are on track
now that the tertiary support has been completed (by a UK firm).
In the JAC schedule, there is now a binary delivery/start of commissioning,
due to other constraints, of either March/April or June. It was
reiterated that engineering lab tests for detectors characterisation
are urgently needed.
CASU presentations: MJI gave an overview of the pipeline and progress.
STH described and updated the plans for photometric calibrations. Andy
Adamson pointed out that JAC will provide separate MSBs to take standards
in all broadband filters at ~hourly intervals (at least to start with).
This is neceassary for accurate calibration due to the queue scheduled
nature of WFCAM observing. JRL described the FIRES and UFTI reductions
he was working on. Due to the detail given a number of anticipated questions
were pre-empted.
SJW presented his manual reductions of the UFTI data. Apparently he had
come to different conclusions to those of JRL.
There was a discussion regarding the construction of the MSBs. It was agreed
that this would be collaborative: the survey groups would be responsible for
them but would be following CASU guidance.
Regarding science verification there were no concrete ideas but it was noted
that this came within the remit of VDUC and within the scope of the CSS and
CSV positions.
NCH gave an overview and demo of the proposed WSA interface.
There were a few miscellaneous talks on ESO survey plans, VISTA update and
CIRPASS potential for followup.
Various updates on the strategies for the main UKIDSS surveys were given.
Three models were given for the science exploitation of WFCAM data (a)
free-for-all (b) Sloan style (c) Collaborative. It looks like each survey
group will decide for itself with variants on options (a) and (c) the most
likely outcome.
SJW is writing up the minutes and actions from the UKIDSS meeting.
A verbose CASU contribution to those minutes is available on the diary web
page or directly at
http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~wfcam/talks/ukidss_nov2003.txt
4. Progress on ISAAC reductions
JRL reported on his further progress at pipeline tuning using ISAAC FIRES
data. The main task that has given pause for thought is in the sky
subtraction strategy. MJI also suggested trying out flatfielding before
sky subtraction since the flat fields were so stable. JRL and MJI both
agreed that iterative sky subtraction was necessary to avoid accumulating
faint -ve artefacts around dithered images. Further tuning will be done.
There seems to be no fringing at all in the ISAAC H-band data <0.1%.
Whereas for UFTI fringing in H is at the +/- 5% level
STH made the comment that it was clear that there was a need for real data
from a specific instrument before you can design the optimum pipeline !
The reduced data will eventually be released on the web so that others can
make use of it and test the properties thoroughly.
5. Reports on progress for Q4M2 VDMT (2nd December)
The meeting is next Tuesday, so reports need to be in by end of today. <<<<
During this topic the need for a date for the VDFS PDR was discussed.
This could be raised at the ESO meeting with JPE and Peter Quinn. <<<<
PSB has recently talked to WJS who said that he would work on the VISTA
Science Requirements Document. This document is critical for many other
documents.
MJI described the trials and tribulations involved in the installation of
the data ingest server (apm6). It had been a useful exercise in a -ve
sense.
6. Astrowise visit
On the 3rd/4th December RGM and MJI will visit Astrowise. RGM will give an
Astrogrid presentation and MJI will give a VDFS pipeline presentation if
required. There also will be a WFAU contingent (NCH, IAB, ETWS) who are
keen to talk databases and will give talks about the WAS if needed. MJI is
more interested in the data processing side and is curious to see if
Astrowise have processed any ESO WFI data and what the results look like.
7. AOB
An election to the Departmental Advisory Committee (for 2004 -->) is coming
up. There are two positions vacant (1 permanent staff member and 1 co-opted
member).
DWE pointed out that neither himself, JRL nor STH had been sent any of the
details. DWE will chase up Paul Aslin (or Margaret Harding) regarding
this. MJI noted that all the Hoyle P/Hs had the flyer in and PSB had also
received a copy. <<<<
It is important that CASU have a representative on this committe and
someone from the group should stand for election. STH was proposed (JRL)
and seconded (MJI). The written nomination must be in by Wednesday. <<<<
On Monday (3:15) MJI will meet various people to discuss the APM building
refurbishment. It was suggested that PSB attend this meeting as well since
a lot of computing disruption was anticipated. <<<<
The concept of an open plan design was discussed and negatively received.
It is envisioned that between 6 and 12 people will be housed in the APM.
The date of the next meeting (last of the year) was discussed. The 15th or
16th December seemed preferable.
Continuing Actions
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STH finish the southern extension of the photometric standards (eg. bright
star checking)
STH finish off numbering of documents and email authors with the appropriate
information
MJI acquire details about the QE variations of the 4 science-grade detectors
JRL finish reduction of UFTI service data
STH acquire UFTI service data as it becomes available and oversee UFTI
reduction and comparison
STH check with SJW about the issue of manual CIRSI and FIRES comparisons
STH look at the spatial systematics in the UFTI standards data and new test
data
MJI supply WFAU with WFCAM-CIRSI test data with updated headers to test
WSA data ingestion (by Tuesday)
STH update risk registers (long-term and short-term illness risk) and place
on web
MJI provide JPE with budget requirements for next VDFS bid (Jan) and also
STH the spend since April 2002 (by Tuesday)
PSB finalise agenda and goals for ESO visit and place on internal web pages
JRL
New Actions
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ALL send in brief reports on progress for Q4M2 VDMT
PSB progress date for PDR at next weeks ESO meeting
DWE chase up Paul Aslin (or Margaret Harding) regarding DAC election details
STH send in written nomination for DAC by Wednesday.
JRL
MJI
MJI Attend and report back on APM building refurbishment meeting to be
PSB held on Monday 1st at 3:15 pm.